WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Today is Wednesday, July 31, the 212th day of 2013. There are 153 days left in the year.

1498 ― Christopher Columbus discovers island of Trinidad

1777 ― Marquis de Lafayette, 19, made major-general of Continental Army

1912 ― U.S. government prohibits movies and photos of prize fights (censorship)

1922 ― 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson rides world's first water skis (Minn.)

1949 ― Lightning strikes a baseball field in Florida., kills the SS and third baseman

1960 ― Elijah Muhammad, leader of Nation of Islam, calls for a black state

1964 ― U.S. Ranger 7 takes 4,316 pictures before crashing on Moon

1966 ― Alabamans burn Beatle products due to John Lennon's anti-Jesus remark

1981 ― 42-day old, second major league baseball strike ends

1990 ― Nolan Ryan becomes the 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games